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Loading XP on a new out of the box hard drive

SgtShNor

Posted 01 June 2005 - 10:11 PM

SgtShNor

New Member

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3 posts

I have recently finished putting together a new computer. When I turn it on I get information about the video card and then a blank screen with a cursor. Nothing else. I have tried the "F" keys but none of them respond. I am hoping the problem is not the processor. Is there anything else the problem might be?

audioboy

Posted 01 June 2005 - 10:51 PM

audioboy

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857 posts

yes, please list the motherboard make and model. meantime, first thing to check is the clear cmos jumper. some motherboards ship with the jumper there set to clear or reset.
unplug the PC. ground yourself by touching something metal in the case before you touch the mobo or any components. find the battery for the cmos (bios) on the board. right near it should be three little headers, labeled clear cmos, or reset cmos, etc. the jumper should be over pins 1 & 2 for normal operation. if you needed to reset the cmos for any reason, you would move the jumper to pins 2 & 3 for 10-20 seconds, then back to 1&2.
so the board may have shipped with the jumper on 2&3. set it to 1&2 if that is the case.

if it is currently on 1&2, go ahead and jumper it to 2&3, wait 20 seconds, then reset to 1&2.

in either case, this should allow it to boot into bios, unless something is wrong with the bios chip itself.

SgtShNor

Posted 01 June 2005 - 11:22 PM

SgtShNor

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Topic Starter

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3 posts

Well I tried what you suggested and it didn't work. Looks like I need to make a trip to my local Fry's. (Oh darn, whatever shall I do , lol) Thanks for the help. I'll post when I can finalize everything.

audioboy

Posted 02 June 2005 - 12:13 AM

audioboy

Member

Member

857 posts

sounds like the bios chip has problems. since you just bought it, exchange it for a new one.
a good test when building a new system is to load up the cpu and heatsink+fan, ram, and video card if needed, then booting up. you should be able to get to bios.